UNAMID to establish humanitarian corridor in Jebel Marra

March 22, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – Darfur peacekeepers and rebels from the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) led by Abdel Wahid Al-Nur agreed to establish a humanitarian corridor in Jebel Marra.

Delegations led by UNAMID Joint Special Representative (JSR) Ibrahim Gambari, and SLM Chairman Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur met during the earlier hours of Tuesday in Kampala after resolving last minute technical details related to the organization of the reunion.

The hybrid force said the meeting focused on the cooperation and coordination between the two parties to facilitate the protection of civilians in the restive region by the peacekeepers.

The parties also discussed channels of communications on the ground and the establishment of a humanitarian security corridor to eastern Jebel Marra.

SLM-AW spokesperson Nimir Abdel Rahman said the meeting was constructive and positive adding it provided an opportunity to discuss matters of mutual concern.

“We agreed to support the mission to accomplish its mandate in the area of civilians’ protection and we will facilitate its access to the sites we control,” he said.

The rebel official said they asked the peacekeepers to improve the protection of displaced civilians in the different camps of the region.

Following the intensification of the clashes between the government army and rebel groups in Darfur since the end of last year, 7,000,000 civilians were forced to flee their villages according to the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan.

(ST)